Katju apologises for 'Indians are idiots' remark

VADODARA: Press Council of India (PCI) chairman Justice Markandey Katju, who has often made headlines for his statements, has issued an apology to a city-based lawyer over one such remark. The lawyer had issued a notice to retired Supreme Court judge over some statements made by him over a period of time.

The lawyer, Mahesh Thakar, had issued a notice to Katju on March 31 over his statement that 90 per cent of Indians were idiots and Indians voted like cattle. Thakar had also raised the issue of Katju seeking pardon for Sanjay Dutt and stating that he would not vote. Thakar had demanded an unconditional apology to all Indians stating that the remarks were defamatory. Thakar stated that he intended to initiate prosecution under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Katju gave a detailed reply to the notice stating that he had been misquoted in some reports, but it was true that he said that 90 per cent of Indians (not all) are fools. He stated that his intention was not to hurt anyone, but to awaken people to realities like widespread casteism, communalism, superstitions and other backward traits that were blocking progress and keeping us poor.

Katju stated that the figure was not a mathematical figure and was used to depict a large proportion of Indians and not all. He stated that he had not named Thakar or any community, caste or sect and never said that Thakar was in the 90 per cent category. He added that he loved Indians and the comment was not intended to humiliate or harm anyone.

Not satisfied with the reply, Thakar sent a reply notice on April 11 and sought more replies. It was to this that Katju stated that his comment on 90 per cent Indians was in a particular context and reiterated that it was not directed towards Thakar or any individual. However, it added that if Thakar was hurt in any manner Katju apologised to him and anybody else who may have been hurt.

Thakar is till not content and has written back stating that such an apology should be publicized widely.